Sweet, Swallowtails!

Hop Trees are a host plant for the Eastern Giant Swallowtail. I have counted up to 13 caterpillars in one visit on these young trees and have had the pleasure of watching them grow! The caterpillar in the top picture is approximately 3 inches long.

One windy day I found a "train" of 3 caterpillars!

Giant Swallowtail caterpillars are appearing in all different sizes. Yesterday I watched this tiny caterpillar shed it's exoskeleton. (Black skin to right of caterpillar.)

The exoskeleton is now missing because the caterpillar ate it. Nothing goes to waste in nature!

Four Eastern Giant Swallowtail Caterpillars are visible in the photo! (if you look carefully!)

Adult, Eastern Giant Swallowtail! I did not have the opportunity to witness any egg laying. (nor could I find the well-camouflaged chrysalis's)

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar, making a silk bed: This species has been more difficult for me to locate at the larval stage in 2024. The silk bed gives the caterpillar something to hold onto in windy weather so it doesn't slide off the leaf.

Young Black Swallowtail Caterpillar on Queen Anne's Lace. In my opinion, the number of caterpillars has been down this year.

 St. Clair River Fish-quest! 

We had a new adventure last week when a friend loaned us his Seine net! We were curious to see what could be found in local waterways, but unfortunately the net owner was unable to join us. (Next time, PC!)

The net was 4 feet by 12 feet and required a person on either end to walk through shallow water "pushing" fish as they advanced. It took a few attempts to perfect the technique so fish would be in the net at the same time the shore was reached. 

Samples from the Seine net were placed in the bucket of water and fish were removed one at a time for photos.

Homemade Photo studio: Once a fish was placed in the aquarium, a divider was slid to push the fish to the front of the tank. Three pairs of subdividers locked the long divider piece into place and limited the movement of the fish. Accommodations were made for different sized fish. In total, 8 species of fish were found!

Bluegill

Bluntnose Minnow

Brook Silverside

Emerald Shiner

Green Sunfish

Western Tubenose Goby

Round Goby: With the exception of the gobies, the fish were carefully returned to the river. Goby's are invasive and destructive to river ecosystems. It is illegal to return them to the water. We tried to feed them to a nearby Ring-billed Gull, but that bird wasn't interested. Perhaps he had a preference for French fries?

 Black and Yellow Yard Pollinators

I have been finding quite the collection of pollinators in the backyard, including a critically imperiled species! If you plant it, they will come! Many of the species are new to me! Most of them are very tiny.

Woolcarder Bee: It was fascinating watching this Woolcarder Bee carry a ball of fluff. These bees scrape the hair from leaves and carry the bundle beneath their bodies to use as a nest lining. It was busy collecting plant hairs from my Pearly Everlasting. They are introduced from Europe.

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62453-Anthidium-manicatum

An underside view of the Woolcarder Bee: The fluff ball is visible in the photo. It was so cumbersome, that the bee appeared to be a bit drunk in flight!

The Hump-backed Beewolf is a species of bee-hunting wasp. They visit flowers and other plants in search of insect prey which they will coat in a layer of pollen and feed to their young. 

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/133268-Philanthus-gibbosus

Two days in a row, I found a Smiling Mason Wasp in my garden! According to iNaturalist, this species is critically imperiled in Ontario. They are a member of the Potter Wasp family and can grow to 10mm in length. The colouration on their thorax (when viewed from the top) resembles a smiley face.

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/427021-Ancistrocerus-campestris

Fraternal Potter Wasp females build a small, mud, jug-shaped nest (pot) on a twig. They place paralyzed beetle larvae, spiders or small caterpillars into the pot and lay an egg on top. When the larva hatches, it has food waiting for it.

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/fraternal_potter_wasp.html

The Pitted Mason Wasp is a small solitary wasp. Nests are made in cavities including hollow twigs, corrugated cardboard and abandoned nests of paper wasps. 

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/pitted_mason_wasp.html

The European Paper Wasp is introduced to Canada. It has a more diverse diet than other members of its family, giving it superior survivability during times of food shortages. 

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/84640-Polistes-dominula

 Canatara Life in August!

An alien in our midst?!? When I found and identified this tiny Apache degeeri, I learned it was the first record in Lambton County! I wasn't able to find records in any of the neighbouring counties either. It is actually a type of Plant Hopper and has an interestingly shaped head; much like a fish. (in my opinion). 

A backlit Great Blue Heron catches a morning snack.

A Great Egret had a morning grooming session high in a dead tree.

A Green Frog rests amongst the lily pads. For many years, frogs were not present in Canatara Park. It's nice to see that they appear to be doing well now!

Black Swallowtail caterpillar eating Queen Anne's Lace.

A Praying Mantis lurks in the plant growth, waiting for unsuspecting prey to approach.

Short-winged Meadow Katydid.  It may have short wings, but it sure has long antennae!!

Double-crested Cormorant and reflection!

 Yard Stuff!

Our yard continues to attract lots of Things with Wings!

A Cicada (sp) chose the front curb to emerge from it's exuviae (final moult). The adult is drying its wings right beside the exoskeleton that protected it while living under ground for a few years. 

Common Aerial Yellowjacket on native Late Figwort. Figworts are considered to be among the best nectar producers in the plant world! The little cups are full of nectar and it has become a plant prized by bee keepers!

https://www.honeybeesuite.com/fun-with-figworts-the-sticky-scrophularia/

A Common Ringlet took a rest on the hood of my car.

A pair of Peck's Skippers on the Black-eyed Susan. We have over a dozen Peck's Skippers hanging out in our yard!

Lots of immature Large Milkweed Bugs are gathering in the garden.

Adult Large Milkweed Bugs, still congregating together.

Common Painted Lady, first of the year.

Katydid sp.

Black Swallowtail

Brown-belted Bumblebee - When the wings are up, the brown belt is visible!

 A Visit to Stag Island!

Many thanks to a fellow moth enthusiast who invited us to Stag Island. It was our first time on the island, located in the St. Clair River, across from Corunna. We were transported by private boat.

 Two ferries carry residence back and forth to the island.

Upon our arrival, we opened the moth traps which had been left outside overnight. Many creatures, other than moths, were attracted to the light including a Giant Mayfly. 

Wavy-lined Emerald (as suggested by iNat)

Arcigera Flower Moth

Figwort Borer Moth

Once we had exhausted the trap life, we walked around the island where we could apparently go on a Garden Tour for only a nickel! 

I found this creature on my shoe. A type of Green Lacewing seemed to be shedding it's exoskeleton.

Goldenrod Soldier Beetle

View taken while walking along the west side of Stag Island, looking north. The top beam of the Bluewater Bridge is distantly visible in the photo.

Looking towards Michigan.

Orange-tipped Oakworm Moth caterpillar

A few Monarch caterpillars were chomping on Milkweed. The top one appears to have dropped a frass nugget!

Looking back towards Corunna.